What were some critical observations from Day 2 of the Washington Commanders' mandatory minicamp as preparations continue for the 2023 season?
After an intriguing practice full of incidents, special guests, and high tempo, the Washington Commanders got back down to business for their second day of mandatory minicamp on Wednesday. Another small building block during what will hopefully be a preparation period full of encouragement for the new campaign.
Everyone associated with the Commanders is eagerly awaiting news of the meeting between Josh Harris, Mitchell Rales, and the NFL's finance committee in New York, which could speed along the sale approval process. But as has been the case for Ron Rivera throughout the offseason, focusing on Washington's football business is all that matters.
It was another session where some players came to the fore, others slipped below standards, and new rivalries potentially began. But the most important thing above all else is everyone got a little better heading into a period of rest.
With this in mind, here are four critical observations from Day 2 of Washington's mandatory minicamp.
Canadian wildfires impacting practices
There was something other than practice that demanded the Washington Commanders' attention on Day 2 of the team's mandatory minicamp. The Canadian wildfires have seen streams of hazardous smoke descend across the east coast, which has enveloped New York and is also set to get worse throughout the D.C. area in the coming days.
After consulting with experts, Ron Rivera opted to hold practice outdoors on Wednesday. The situation will be monitored closely in the coming hours, but the head coach stated via Sports Illustrated that they might have to move things indoors based on forecasts.
"We looked at the air quality index … We reached out to our doctors, our medical personnel and asked about what our options are about practicing today, tomorrow and probably next week we'll have to continue to monitor it."Ron Rivera via Sports Illustrated
Safety for all is absolutely paramount here. While going into the dome isn't exactly ideal, it might be the best course of action given the current situation.
Commanders WR Dax Milne impresses
We've spoken previously about how difficult it'll be for those further down the wide receiver pecking order to make their presences felt. The Washington Commanders have their starting trio sown up and remain hopeful that Dyami Brown can fulfill his promise with old college teammate Sam Howell under center, so what happens below the top four is anyone's guess.
That's what makes practice reps so important for those trying to cement their status or carve a new path for themselves. And one wideout that's caught the eye more than most throughout early offseason workouts once again imposed himself on Day 2 of the Commanders' mandatory minicamp.
Dax Milne is an interesting case. The former seventh-round pick hasn't generated much in the way of targets over his two-year stint in Washington so far and given the options available, his place as the team's kick returner is also in serious doubt.
If this extra competition was designed to increase Milne's performance levels, it's had the desired effect so far. The one-time BYU standout has gained a reputation for making spectacular grabs and another fine example came on Wednesday when he plucked a descending ball almost from the floor for a big gain.
There is a long way to go and plenty of twists to come yet. However, Milne has kicked off his offseason with renewed purpose in pursuit of enhancing his chances of similar or more involvement when the time to decide the 53-man roster arrives.
Eric Bieniemy's methods well received by Commanders
Eric Bieniemy has been a breath of fresh air across the Washington Commanders throughout OTAs and the team's mandatory minicamp to date. He's vocal, isn't taking any prisoners if standards are slipping, and boasts an infectious enthusiasm that's rubbing off on almost everybody.
Bieniemy just wants to make a success of his landmark switch from the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. If that means some fall by the wayside in pursuit of excellence, the Commanders will see that as a small price to pay.
Another player was reportedly yanked from a drill today by Bieniemy, which only lessens the margin for error whether you are an established player or not. When speaking about the play-caller after practice, wide receiver Jahan Dotson stated via the team's website that being pushed is something that many have welcomed from such a respected figure.
"It's awesome to have someone who holds you to such a high standard. He only wants success out of you. That's all he wants to see. He wants to see you succeed at all times. I ran into him yesterday after meetings, and he said, 'You have so much potential, and I'm gonna make sure I get it out of you,' That's what you want in someone."Jahan Dotson via Commanders.com
Some might not like it, but one suspects Bieniemy will ship them out pretty quickly if they aren't pulling their weight. And make no mistake, this must be a collective effort if the Commanders want to make a playoff return.
Montez Sweat pushing Commanders QB1
While Chase Young hogged the headlines upon returning to the practice field on Tuesday, fellow defensive end Montez Sweat was also back in the building. He is another that's on the lookout for a bumper payday and one could argue it's something the former first-round selection's already earned after a fantastic start to his professional career.
The Washington Commanders have everything on hold until Josh Harris' ownership group receives formal approval to purchase the franchise for $6.05 billion. Once it gets rubber-stamped, extending players like Sweat and Kamren Curl could be among the team's top priorities.
Sweat has wasted no time in imposing his will on practices. One notable element on Wednesday was his ongoing battle with quarterback Sam Howell.
It's evident that Sweat is looking to push Howell. The signal-caller took on the challenge and made some plays, but the edge rusher let him know when things went the other way during a highly eventful competition between the pair.
As the old saying goes, iron sharpens iron. Howell is getting a crash course on what it's going to take against elite pass-rushers against Sweat, which will only intensify further when training camp rolls around.
Sweat's importance to the Commanders is undisputed. If he can bring an extra few percent from Howell's performance levels along the way, the better Washington's chances will be next season.